Some Days by JayWood

JayWood is the pseudonymous indie-alternative project of Jeremy Haywood-Smith from Winnipeg Manitoba. What started as a bedroom recording project of sad jangle-pop songs, evolved into the psych-funk approach present on JayWood’s latest effort, Some Days - his debut release on Captured Tracks. 


Written and originally recorded in 2015, the EP Some Days was born of a time of compounding transitions in Haywood-Smith’s life. The end of a long-term relationship, a shift in social circles, and an impending move found Haywood-Smith grappling with self-identity. It also presented the rare moment of a fresh start. Taking cues from his favorite DIY artists, he channeled his anxieties into songwriting, trying his hand at self-recording using just a guitar, a midi-controller, and a borrowed MacBook. “I had to write the EP and learn how to record at the same time, which you can definitely hear in the original recordings. The songs were kinda messy, but I just went with the first ideas that came to mind. I made a rule for myself not to go back on anything, because I didn't have the time to tweak around.”

Ultimately deciding to re-record the tracks years later, HayWood-Smith had the opportunity to reminisce on the past, while staying firmly rooted in the present. It was a process of life imitating art as “Some Days” is “about feeling that push/pull of moving forward versus staying comfortable” and “What You Do To Me” confronts the familiar, seemingly endless cycle of depression. JayWood’s catchy pop hooks combine with jazz chords and a psychedelic approach on “Creeps”, his “angsty break-up song”, and a striking juxtaposition to “Dreams” which finds Haywood-Smith ruminating on the idea of a picture perfect relationship set to swelling, ethereal strings.


With a flair for channeling the past into immediate, feel-good music, JayWood is certainly one to watch.

JayWood is the enigmatic, artistic outlet for boundary-pushing producer, musician and singer-songwriter Jeremy Haywood-Smith. JayWood fluidly navigates the blurred lines between genres such as Alternative, Hip-Hop, Indie, and Neo-Soul—all territory where he feels completely at home.

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